Hydraulic flash arrester



April 17, 1934. w MESINGER 1,955,679

HYDRAULIC FLASH ARRESTER Filed April 29, 1931 u HTITI Hull v l 1 4' i}: M

INVENTOR.

TTORNE Vs,

Patented Apr. 17, 1934 UNITED STATES HYDRAULIC FLASH ARRESTER William F. Mesinger, Indianapolis, Ind, assignor to The Prest-O-Lite Company, Inc., a corporation of New York Application April 29, 1931, Serial No. 533,859

6 Claims.

This invention relates to hydraulic flash arresters for use in conduits for combustible or explosive gases and especially for use in conduits used in the transmission of acetylene. An object of my invention is to provide a hydraulic flash arrester wherein provision is made for closing the conduit when the level of the sealing liquid falls below a predetermined level. This and other objects of my invention will be evident from the following description, having reference to the accompanying drawing, in which the single figure is a vertical section through a device constructed in accordance with one embodiment of my invention.

In the form shown there is provided a chamber 1 which may be of any suitable shape but which is preferably cylindrical. A cover 2 is secured thereto in any suitable manner, such as by bolts 3 extending through the cover and a flange 4, which is secured to the chamber by welding. An inlet pipe 5 extends through the cover and downwardly toward the bottom of the chamber, being held centrally of the reservoir by suitable spacing means such as spiders 6. At the bottom of the pipe 5 is a valve structure '7, which comprises a shell 8 and a ball 9. The shell 8 is secured to the lower end of the pipe 5 in any suitable manner, as by the screw threads shown in the drawing. A double valve seat is provided, the upper seat being provided by suitably shaping the lower end of the pipe 5 and the lower seat being provided in the shell 8.

Surrounding the lower end of the pipe 5 is an annular float 11. This float may be of hollow metal or of a solid substance lighter than the sealing liquid such as wood. This latter construction is better than a hollow metal float since the wood serves as a reinforcement to prevent crushing in case of an explosion. This permits the use of thin light metal as the covering. In my preferred form 40 I construct the float of wood, covered with a closefitting tight metal jacket to avoid water-logging.

The float is held in position by pins 21 extending outwardly from the pipe 5. Extending downwardly from the float is a member 12 carrying a pin 13. This pin extends upwardly through an aperture in the bottom of the shell 8 and engages the ball 9. The member 12 is provided with holes 14 in the sides and bottom so that the liquid may enter freely. The chamber is provided with a 4 filling device 16 and a gas outlet 17, which may be closed With a suitable cap when not in use.

The operation of my device is as follows: The gas flows downwardly through the pipe 5, passes around the ball 9 and through the opening in the bottom of the shell 8. It bubbles upwardly through the liquid which is in the bottom of the reservoir and passes out through the outlet 17. The liquid in the chamber will usually be water for indoor use and outdoor use during the warmer portion of the year. For outdoor use during the cooler months a suitable antifreeze solution is used. The level of the liquid is preferably even with the filling opening 16. When the liquid level is high the float rises and the pin 13 raises the ball 9 against the upper seat. However, the pres- 651 sure of the gas in the pipe 5 is suflicient to force the ball downwardly far enough to allow the gas to escape around it. Should the liquid level fall by evaporation or otherwise the float also falls and allows the ball to engage the lower seat. At this time the gas pressure serves to force it more tightly against the seat and cuts off the flow of gas therethrough, preventing the use of the device with an insuflicient quantity of sealing liquid in the chamber.

The flash arrester operates generally in the manner of the device disclosed in my copending application, now Patent No. 1,825,970 issued October 6, 1931, the liquid serving to prevent the propagation of flash backs and in addition 80.- the ball valve acts as a check in case of explosions of greater magnitude. In case the explosion is on the inlet side of the line, the ball valve is driven against the lower seat, while if the explosion is on the outlet side the ball valve is driven against the upper seat. In either case the conduit is effectively closed in case of serious disturbances in the acetylene line.

Thus it will be evident I have devised an improved flash arrester of the hydraulic type in which provision is made for shutting off the flow of gas in case the sealing liquid level in the chamber falls below a predetermined point.

I claim:

1. A flash back arrester for combustible gases comprising a sealing liquid chamber, an inlet extending within said chamber and terminating near the bottom thereof, said inlet having spaced opposing valve seats, a valve in said inlet between said seats and float controlled means operatively connected to said valve so constructed and arranged-that the valve is closed against one or the other of the seats when the liquid level falls below or rises above a predetermined range of levels.

2. A flash back arrester for combustible gases comprising a sealing liquid chamber provided with an outlet and an inlet, said inlet extending within said chamber and terminating near the bottom thereof having a pair of valve seats operable to seat selectively against said seats, a nonreturn valve in said inlet and float controlled means operatively connected to said valve so constructed and arranged that the valve is closed against one or the other of said seats when the liquid level falls below or rises above a predetermined range of levels.

3. A flash back arrester for combustible gases comprising a sealing liquid chamber provided with an inlet and an outlet, said inlet extending within said chamber and terminating near the bottom thereof, a double seated valve at the end of said inlet and float controlled means operatively connected to said valve so constructed 7 and arranged that the valve is selectively closed against said seats when the liquid level falls below or rises above a predetermined range of levels.

4. A flash back arrester for combustible gases comprising a sealing liquid chamber, a conduit extending downwardly from the top of said chamber, a valve body supported by said conduit and in communication therewith, a valve member within said valve body, valve seats above and below said valve member, a float and means operated by said float for holding said valve member away from said seats when the liquid level is between predetermined levelsand for causing the valve to seat against one or the other of said seats according as the liquid level rises or falls to one or the other of said levels.

5. A flash back arrester for combustible gases comprising a sealing liquid chamber, a conduit extending within said chamber, a double seated valve body at the end of said conduit, a valve member within said valve body, an annular float surrounding said conduit and means carried by said float for raising the valve body from the lower seat when the liquid level is above a predetermined level and bringing it into contact with the upper seat when the liquid level rises to a predetermined height.

6. A flash back arrester for combustible gases comprising a sealing liquid chamber having an inlet and an outlet and a filling opening, said inlet extending downwardly from the top of said chamber and terminating near the bottom thereof, a double seated valve body at the end of said inlet, a valve member within said body between said seats, a float and means operatively connected to said float for raising said valve body from the lower seat of said valve member when a liquid level in said chamber reaches a predetermined level and for seating it against the upper seat when the liquid level rises further to a predetermined level.

WILLIAM F. MESINGER. 

